Actor Sanjay Dutt has issued a video statement clarifying his recent comments on Shekhar Suman’s talk show, Shekhar Tonite, stating that the remarks were part of a scripted performance and do not reflect his personal views.
The clarification comes after snippets of his appearance on the Gandhi Jayanti special episode drew mixed reactions and sparked online debate regarding his comments about national peace and political satire.
”Hello, everyone. Recently, several people on social media have contacted me regarding some things I said on Shekhar Suman’s show,” Dutt said in the video. “Whatever I said on the show was part of a scripted segment, as is often the case on television shows of this nature. We were performing according to a script. The things said during that segment were part of that performance and its context.”
During the episode, the actor discussed national peace and humorously channelled his iconic Munna Bhai persona. In a satirical segment, Dutt imagined serving as the Prime Minister for five minutes and proposed adding a “fourth monkey” to Mahatma Gandhi’s three famous monkeys—one that actively corrects wrongdoings.
He also remarked during the conversation that he felt the country lacked the “peace” it once had, prompting varied interpretations across social media platforms.
Addressing the backlash, Dutt emphasized that his intent was never to cause offense or disrespect any group or institution.
In an earlier statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the actor explained that the segment was modeled after the light-hearted satire and “Gandhigiri” themes seen in his popular Munna Bhai films. “The spirit behind them was similar to the humour and satire seen in films like Munna Bhai, particularly the concept of ‘Gandhigiri,’ which was intended to convey a message of love, warmth, togetherness, and goodwill,” he noted.
Reiterating his respect for his audience, Dutt concluded his video message by asking fans not to take the scripted act as his actual political or personal stance. “I deeply value the trust and affection of my friends and well-wishers. I would never want any misunderstanding about my actual views to arise because of a scripted performance,” he stated.
Also read: Sanjay Dutt Addresses Lack of Peace in India, Jokes About Being PM
